How every individual’s attention to detail drives accuracy, efficiency, and fair compensation across the music landscape.
The following was created in collaboration with Equalizer Consulting.
Many who have attended music conference panels on data understand that there is a recurring problem: we often look in the wrong places for solutions. While data pain points are endlessly repeated and a wealth of potential fixes are being developed, there’s no “metadata magic wand” or single tech solution that will resolve the underlying issues. The truth is that the responsibility for metadata improvement doesn’t rest with one person, team, or company. Everyone plays a vital part, and too often, we’re overlooking those who can make the most significant impact.
The word metadata seems like such a technical term. It doesn’t sound creative or fun, but it is the backbone of so much of what we do in the music industry, and if you think it doesn’t impact you, it’s time to pay attention. It’s being created by every sector of the industry at a pace faster than ever before. We are drowning in data, but so much of it is unusable or unreliable.
Challenges in data capture and flow within the music ecosystem begin at the earliest stages of creation. Consider the studio: collaborators often fail to capture essential information from one another, songwriter shares remain unconfirmed, and legal names are frequently undefined. I’ve recently heard from creatives that they don’t even know how to start the conversation. Later, when a label administration team seeks to confirm label copy from an artist manager, the submitted data is often incomplete or lacks the necessary quality standards.
Too often, the critical task of data entry falls to interns or entry-level administrators who may lack adequate training in proper data management. Without the ability to identify data anomalies, they inadvertently contribute to early failures in the data chain. Do they understand when to question missing elements? Can they spot and correct errors? Do they grasp how their care around input directly impacts the speed and accuracy of royalty payments many steps later?
Within music companies, departmental silos often impede effective data handling. Teams may operate without much consideration for the origin or ultimate destination of the data they manage. An A&R Administrator might not consider how data input helps to match a recording to its corresponding composition, in that the matching takes place in a different system or a different company. Similarly, a Business Affairs Administrator might enter deal data using a legal name, unaware that the marketing team primarily identifies that performer by an alias. A tour manager may not be thinking about how a set list may be used to obtain performance royalties. All of these elements are driven by key pieces of metadata and, ideally, will be maintained with some shared understanding of how the interconnected ecosystem works.
The inherent siloed nature of many music industry roles underscores this problem. An individual may expertly manage a process or data element within their immediate purview, yet possess limited insight into how that data was gathered, vetted, or passed along. Crucially, they often lack understanding of what happens to the data they create and maintain. While they function as a “cog in the machine,” can the machine work effectively without comprehending the function of each connecting cog? In this scenario, context is everything. Viewing a piece of data or a process in isolation has a limited value compared to the complete story that unfolds once connected to other elements. These connections become essential for true effectiveness.
Integrating robust data management and accountability into every operational process is key. This involves understanding the data’s origin and destination, and acknowledging each individual’s role in ensuring its completeness, correctness, and clarity throughout the chain. If a data recipient identifies errors or deficiencies, the responsibility to review and correct that data passes to them. Therefore, data accountability must be applied at all levels of an organization, from entry-level positions to leadership.
Consistency across departments and systems drives efficiency, improved analytical output, and more accurate decision-making. Even where industry-wide standards may be lacking, establishing and adhering to clear internal standards, understood and followed by all team members, provides a vital starting point.
Improving metadata isn’t about finding a magic wand; it’s about empowering everyone in your organization to be a proactive part of the solution. This requires not just better tools, but a clearer understanding of data’s journey, consistent standards, and a culture of shared accountability.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.